In the first two WHL Bantam Drafts in Victoria, there were a few hits and a few more misses. However, the 2012 Draft was a big improvement over the previous year, despite the fact that the four of their last five picks never played a game in the Western Hockey League.

The 2013 Draft is also an improvement on the 2012 one, so let’s take a look at how General Manager Cameron Hope did.

A day after winning the title of “Smartest WHL Club” with their 2016-2017 WHL Scholastic Team of the Year award, the Victoria Royals were hoping for some genius picks of their own at the WHL Bantam Draft. Only time will tell how many of these draft picks will turn into quality junior players, but for these players picked, it was a positive step in the direction of becoming a professional hockey player. Of course, if you were not picked in the WHL Bantam Draft, it doesn’t necessarily mean your career is dead. Players like Jamie Benn (Kelowna) and Jarome Iginla (Kamloops) were not drafted and they have done just fine.

Without further ado, let’s go over how the Royals did in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.